Robbery shows that crime never really pays

TODAY is the 40th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery, and while its mastermind, Bruce Reynolds, now 71, prepares to be the guest of honour tomorrow at a fete in Oakley, Buckinghamshire - close to Leatherslade Farm where his gang hid out after the heist - it is perhaps timely to recap on what happened to the others.

TODAY is the 40th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery, and while its mastermind, Bruce Reynolds, now 71, prepares to be the guest of honour tomorrow at a fete in Oakley, Buckinghamshire - close to Leatherslade Farm where his gang hid out after the heist - it is perhaps timely to recap on what happened to the others.

For, "Crime of the Century" it may have been, but the fate of most of the gang members is pathetic rather than romantic.

Ex-boxer Ronald "Buster" Edwards, widely believed to have been the man who wielded the cosh used to hit train driver Jack Mills over the head, was found hanged in a garage in 1994 at the age of 62.

Charlie Wilson, the gang's "treasurer" emerged from prison in 1978, but was later a suspect in a &#xA3;100 million gold fraud, and was shot and killed by a hitman on a bicycle in Marbella, Spain, in 1990.

Ronnie Biggs is languishing in Belmarsh high security jail in London, having suffered three major strokes.

Roy "weasel" James, the chief getaway driver, left the tell-tale fingerprint at the farm hide-out. He served 12 of 30 years in jail, then moved to Spain where he was jailed again for six years in 1993 after shooting his wife's father and hitting her with a pistol, and died at the age of 62.

Brian Field, a bent solicitor, was sentenced to 25 years reduced to five, and died in a motorway crash in 1979.

Tommy Wisbey, a thug whose job was to frighten the train staff, was sentenced to 30 years and released in 1976, but was jailed for another 10 years in 1989 for cocaine dealing. He has suffered several strokes.

James Hussey, released in 1975 was jailed again for seven years in 1989 for drug smuggling with Tommy Wisbey.

Bobby Welch was released from jail in 1976, but was left crippled after an operation on his leg went wrong.

Bill Boal, charged with receiving stolen goods and jailed for 24 years, died of cancer in jail in 1970.

Only four of the gang appear to have put the past behind them, and be living, one hopes, blameless lives.

Roger Cordrey, jailed for 20 years reduced to 14 on appeal, moved to the West Country to sell flowers.

Jimmy White, released in 1975, lives in Sussex. Leonard Field, sentenced to 25 years reduced to five, lives in north London.

John Wheater, a bent solicitor, served three years and is believed to live in Surrey.

Seen for the perspective of history and the benefit of hindsight, the Great train Robbery was just a botched job by a bunch of deeply unattractive and amateurish no-hopers.